FROM emotional pleas to what we know so far about Christmas, here are the key talking Covid points from the last 24-hours:

  • More than 70,000 deaths involving Covid-19 have now occurred in the UK, new figures show

A total of 65,911 deaths have so far been registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, according to the latest reports from the UK’s statistics agencies.

This includes 1,227 deaths in Northern Ireland up to November 13 (and registered up to November 18), which were confirmed by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency on Friday.

Since these figures were compiled, a further 3,957 deaths are known to have occurred in England, plus 58 in Scotland, 262 in Wales and 66 in Northern Ireland, according to additional data published on the Government’s coronavirus dashboard.

Together, these totals mean that so far 70,254 deaths involving Covid-19 have taken place in the UK.

  • Mam makes emotional plea after daughter dies of Covid: 'Never naively think you are safe'

​The mother of a woman who died from Covid-19 has made a plea to people to abide by the regulations and spoke of how she does not want her daughter's death to be in vain.

Sonia Partridge, 35, from Stockton died in hospital in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Sonia and her partner Kerry Ann had 13 children.

In a touching tribute, Sonia's mother, Jacquie Herron, made a plea to people to "never naively think you are safe". Read more here.

  • Closure of dementia day centres a blow to sufferers

People living with dementia across Richmondshire and Hambleton will no longer have access to “lifeline” day services after the closure of centres in Richmond and Northallerton.

Garget Walker House, Richmond, and Bluebell House, Northallerton, were day support centres for people with all kinds of dementia, including Alzheimer’s, and offered therapy, support and stimulation, as well as respite for their carers.

Dorothy Shaw, whose husband Duncan has used Garget Walker House for the last three years, said she was shocked when she learned of the closure at the end of October. Read the full story here.

  • Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe died of Covid, post-mortem reveals

A Coroner has paid tribute to the many victims of the Yorkshire Ripper following his death. Earlier today, the inquest opened into the death of the serial killer at Crook, County Durham.

Sutcliffe died last Friday, after reportedly refusing treatment at the University Hospital of North Durham. He was serving a whole life term for murdering 13 women across Yorkshire and north-west England between 1975 and 1980. Read the full story here.

  • What will a Covid Christmas look like? Everything we know so far

Christmas has become quite the talking point on North-East the streets and in Government, with everyone split over what Covid restrictions should be in place. 

The Prime Minister is yet to reveal his plan for Christmas and what measures will in place as he attempts to strike a balance between festivities and safety.

While Matt Hancock has insisted social distancing must be maintained, easing of other restrictions may lead to a third coronavirus spike and subsequent lockdown in the new year. Click here to find out what we know so far.

  • Latest figures show there have been 1,654 new confirmed coronavirus cases in the North-East and North Yorkshire.

The Government said a further 511 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Friday.

The Government said that, as of 9am on Friday, there had been a further 20,252 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK.

Coronavirus cases in the North-East and North Yorkshire as of Friday, November 20:

County Durham: 17,748 was 17,501

Darlington: 2,976 was 2,910

Gateshead: 7,237 was 7,140

Hartlepool: 3,561 was 3,484

Middlesbrough: 5,190 was 5,113

Newcastle upon Tyne: 14,843 was 14,692

North Tyneside: 6,120 was 6,026

North Yorkshire: 12,215 was 12,035

Northumberland: 7,610 was 7,470

Redcar and Cleveland: 4,188 was 4,101

South Tyneside: 5,200 was 5,101

Stockton-on-Tees: 6,936 was 6,768

Sunderland: 10,293 was 10,158

York: 5,381 was 5,345

Total increase: 1,654